Psalm 144 13

Psalm 144:13

ESV: may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

KJV: That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:

NIV: Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;

NKJV: That our barns may be full, Supplying all kinds of produce; That our sheep may bring forth thousands And ten thousands in our fields;

NLT: May our barns be filled
with crops of every kind.
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands,
even tens of thousands,

Meaning

Psalm 144:13 is a fervent prayer for an abundance of agricultural wealth and livestock prosperity for the nation. It describes an idealized state where the storehouses are overflowing with every kind of produce and the flocks of sheep multiply immeasurably in the open fields, symbolizing comprehensive national blessing, security, and God's tangible favor. It envisions a land free from scarcity, marked by complete provision and overflowing fruitfulness as a sign of divine good pleasure.

Cross References

Context

Psalm 144 is attributed to David, a king and a warrior, reflecting his dual role. The psalm begins with praise to God as a strong deliverer in battle (v. 1-11), asking for victory and rescue from enemies. The tone then shifts abruptly in verses 12-15 to a vision of national prosperity and the blessings for God's people under righteous rule. This verse (13) is a key component of this second part of the psalm, detailing the specific aspects of material well-being—abundant crops and thriving livestock—that signify a nation living under God's favor. It anticipates a state of comprehensive shalom, where physical security leads to fruitful productivity, ensuring the welfare and happiness of the entire society. This aligns with the Mosaic covenant blessings which promised agricultural and familial abundance as rewards for obedience.

Word analysis

• May our garners be full
  • Garners (Hebrew: məzāwê / מְזָוֵינוּ): Refers to granaries, storehouses, or provision rooms. In ancient Israel, this was the central place for storing grains, oil, and wine. Its fullness signified food security, protection against famine, and a stable future. This word is also related to "supply" or "store" again later in the verse, highlighting the source of the coming forth.
  • full (Hebrew: məleʾîm / מְלֵאִים): Denotes completion, satiety, and overflowing abundance. It is not merely enough, but completely filled, suggesting an overabundance.
• supplying all kinds of store
  • supplying (Hebrew: məpîqîm / מְפִיקִים): Means "bringing forth," "producing," or "yielding." It emphasizes a continuous output or productivity from the garners, indicating perpetual replenishment, not just a one-time filling.
  • all kinds of store (Hebrew: mizzāw mizzāw / מִזָּו מִזָּו): Literally "from store to store" or "out of store, out of store." This is an idiom indicating variety and completeness—not just one type of produce, but "all sorts," "every kind," or an abundant supply that covers every need and desire. It suggests comprehensive and diverse provision.
• may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands
  • sheep (Hebrew: ṣōʾnēnu / צֹאנֵנוּ): While specifically "sheep," this term often refers to general flocks or livestock in ancient texts, a primary measure of wealth and sustenance in an agrarian-pastoral society.
  • bring forth (Hebrew: ma'ălîfôt / מַאֲלִיפוֹת): Derived from eleph (thousand), meaning "to yield a thousand-fold" or "to be fruitful in thousands." It vividly expresses rapid, prolific multiplication, suggesting divine intervention for extraordinary fertility.
  • thousands and ten thousands (Hebrew: la'ălāfîm wərivbōṯ / לָאֲלָפִים וְרִבְבוֹת): These are hyperbolic terms (myriads), conveying an immense and uncountable number. It is a classic biblical expression for extraordinary multiplication and great prosperity, echoing the blessings given to Rebekah (Gen 24:60). It signifies overwhelming abundance that goes beyond normal expectations.
• in our fields
  • fields (Hebrew: bəḥûṣōṯēnû / בְּחוּצוֹתֵינוּ): Literally "in our open places," which can refer to pastures, fields, or even broader communal areas and streets of the land where flocks would graze or be seen. This highlights a widespread, visible blessing across the nation's entire domain, demonstrating the collective prosperity of the people.

Commentary

Psalm 144:13 provides a striking picture of material prosperity as a mark of God's favor and peace in the land. It shifts the focus from military deliverance to the blessedness of everyday life when God's hand is upon a nation. The request for full garners and super-multiplying flocks is not merely for wealth itself, but represents fundamental security, freedom from want, and visible evidence of divine blessing. This holistic abundance—from agricultural staples to vital livestock—ensures not just survival but flourishing. It paints a vision of a stable and secure society, highlighting the Lord as the ultimate provider who sustains His people not only in conflict but also in peace. The prosperity described is a consequence of God's covenant faithfulness when His people live in accordance with His ways. This prayer underscores a king's desire for the welfare of his people, seeing the nation's physical bounty as intertwined with God's reign and blessing upon them. This passage serves as a reminder that God delights in blessing His people comprehensively, touching every aspect of their lives with abundance, whether it be literal provision in an agricultural setting or spiritual and vocational fruitfulness in contemporary contexts.

Bonus section

• Praise for National Well-being: The prayer for abundance transitions into a concluding declaration in v. 15 that "Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord." This emphasizes that true national prosperity is not merely material gain but is rooted in their relationship with and devotion to Yahweh, seeing all bounty as flowing from Him.
• Aspiration for Shalom: The picture painted here—full barns and teeming flocks—is an aspiration for comprehensive shalom, which encompasses not just peace but also well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and security for the entire community. It suggests a land where basic needs are not just met but overflow, freeing the people to focus on their devotion to God.
• The King's Responsibility: In ancient Israel, the prosperity of the kingdom was often seen as reflecting the righteousness of the king. David, as the psalmist and king, voices this prayer for his people's abundant blessings, thereby expressing his leadership role in seeking God's favor on their behalf.
• Figurative Application: While originally agricultural, the themes resonate beyond literal farms and flocks. It can be applied to spiritual fruitfulness (Gal 5:22-23), vocational abundance (Col 3:23), or the overwhelming provision in Christ for all our needs (Phil 4:19), suggesting God's desire for fullness and flourishing in every area of a believer's life.

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